Front Page Headlines
‘Look at what has become of us’
Leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman said that he asked President Ersin Tatar during Saturday’s meeting what was going on in Maraş (Varosha) only to receive the reply that he too did not know anything. “Our Interior Minister, Foreign Minister or President will have no information on what is going on as the Konya (Turkey) municipality arrives. What has happened to this country’s institutions, to its will? We should seriously consider what is going on. Our very existence has become subject to debate,” he said.
- Kudret Özersay: “Steps have been taken without the knowledge or approval of the TRNC’s institutions. This is improper.”
Home quarantine begins with electronic wristbands
Health Minister Ali Pilli said that 35 individuals were strapped with electronic wristbands at the weekend. He said that an additional 230 individuals who arrived in the country yesterday (Monday) were being monitored with the electronic wristbands at their homes. Pilli said that a protocol will be signed for the purchase of the wristbands following a short trial period. “I expect we shall be launching the electronic wristband system within ten days. This system should be in place by November 15 the latest.” The Minister of Public Works and Communication Tolga Atakan said his ministry had taken on the technical work for the wristband application and had met with relevant state bodies. He said they were testing to see if it was physically possible to monitor those in home quarantine.
- Tatar-Anastasiades meeting tonight –The two leaders will be coming together for an informal meeting tonight (Tuesday) at 7pm.
Like a puppet
The main opposition leader asked the president during an official meeting: “What is happening in Maraş (Varosha)?” The president responded: “I have no knowledge of what is going on.” Addressing parliament, CTP leader Tufan Erhürman said that what was going on was shocking and beyond comprehension.
- “This is not healthy at all” – Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay said that he had no information as to what was going on in Maraş (Varosha) and evaluated relations with Turkey. Speaking in parliament Özersay said, “Steps are being taken without the knowledge of TRNC institutions. This is improper. Relations with Turkey need to be placed on healthy foundations because what is going on at the moment is not healthy.
Who will put an end to this?
Eight deaths and more than 4000 violations in 35 days. Speeding the leading cause of the growing number of traffic accidents in North Cyprus. A total of 281 traffic accidents took place in North Cyprus in the past 35 days. According to police reports, eight people have died and 93 people have been injured. Speeding is the leading cause followed by reckless driving. Of the 281 accidents, 88 were caused by speeding. 68 of the accidents were caused by reckless driving, 51 of them due to junction violations, 52 of them as a result of drivers failing to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them and 22 from other causes. Using mobile phones while driving is also one of the leading causes. 4406 drivers were fined in the past 35 days, 335 of them due to speeding and dangerous driving and 629 for using their mobile phones whilst driving.
- Greek Cypriots in a panic – Zero cases in the north, 197 positive cases in the south in the last 24 hours.
At the same table with the person who supports Taksim (partition)
The General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers’ Union (KTÖS) Şener Elcil asked how well did Anastasiades know Tatar with whom he will meet for the first time. Şener Elcil: Mr Anastasiades, as someone well aware that the treaties of the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) prohibits Taksim or Enosis, are you not aware that Mr Ersin Tatar’s statements regarding a two-state solution are the very definition of partition? Despite knowing that dividing the island is a crime, are you not disturbed by sitting at the same table with Tatar who advocates division and secession?
Main News
A solution cannot be forced upon TCs, says Tatar
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog, Avrupa
Negotiations Process, Economy, EU Matters
OVERVIEW
Turkish Cypriot President Ersin Tatar on Monday said that a solution could not be forced upon the Turkish Cypriot community.
Tatar, speaking during a visit paid to him by the Board of Directors of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce headed by Turgay Deniz, said it was necessary to lift the embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots to reach a solution.
“The embargoes are imposed on Turkish Cypriots. A solution cannot be imposed. If the other side has the intention to reach a lasting peace in Cyprus, they will need to revise their approach to the embargoes and isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots,” he added.
Tatar pointed out that the embargoes and isolation Turkish Cypriots were subjected to could no longer be tolerated in this time and age.
He also said that the absence of direct flights to the north was the result of the Greek Cypriot side’s veto.
“If people who arrive from Larnaca are being prevented from crossing north this is the doing of the Greek Cypriot side. These are efforts aimed at preventing us from accomplishing anything. You can’t prevent the development and prosperity of Turkish Cypriots and then impose a settlement,” he said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side will not accept this.
This is something the international community needs to understand, Tatar said.
Regarding his meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday evening, Tatar said that this was a social meeting to get acquainted.
He said he will be conveying the Turkish Cypriot side’s views as well as the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot community.
“I will be telling Mr Anastasiades that the continuation of the embargoes is unacceptable and that this is not something the Turkish Cypriot people will accept,” Tatar stressed.
The head of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) Turgay Deniz for his part said that his chamber was prepared to assist Tatar in any way possible.
He explained that the KTTO was carrying out lobbying activities in Brussels on several issues whether it be for the expansion of the Green Line Regulation, the implementation of the stalled Direct Trade Regulation or further improving relations between EU institutions and the Turkish Cypriot Community.
He said that KTTO planned to open a liaison office in the UK to launch various activities there as well.
Meanwhile, the two leaders, Ersin Tatar and Nicos Anastasiades will be coming together on Tuesday night under the auspices of the UN Secretary General’s special representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar.
The first meeting, since Tatar’s election last month, will be a social encounter.
The meeting will take place at Spehar’s residence in the UN-protected area at 7pm.
The UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres last month expressed readiness to provide his Good Offices mission for the resumption of talks and to build on the existing body of work.
He also expressed hope that this first informal contact would pave the way for fruitful discussions.
And he reiterated his commitment to exploring with the two leaders as well as with the guarantor powers – Greece, Turkey and the UK – the possibility of launching an informal five-party plus UN summit at an appropriate stage.
KEY ACTORS
Tatar
>> A solution cannot be forced or imposed on the TC community.
>> Necessary to lift embargoes imposed on TCs to reach a solution.
>> GC side needs to review its policy on isolation & embargoes if it is sincere on a lasting solution.
>> Not possible to impose embargoes on TC community & then impose a settlement.
>> I will convey to Anastasiades the TC side’s views & expectations of the TC Community.
Anger over handling of Maraş (Varosha) process
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Property, Territory, Governance and Power Sharing
OVERVIEW
The opposition in the north slammed President Ersin Tatar and the National Unity Party (UBP) on Monday for being kept in the dark about developments concerning Maraş (Varosha) as well as the exclusion of Turkish Cypriot institutions in the process.
The leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhürman lambasted Tatar who told him he had no idea what was going on in Maraş (Varosha).
Erhürman said that he was shocked with how developments on the fenced-off city were unfolding.
“I was appalled with the reply I got when I asked Mr Tatar during our meeting on Saturday what was going. He said that he too was not informed,” the CTP leader said.
“This is the point we have reached. The Turkish Minister of Environment and Urban Planning arrives in the country and our interior minister finds out of the visit on TV. Not only is this unacceptable, but it is also beyond comprehension. What’s worse is that this is being done by representatives of a party which advocates for an independent state,” Erhürman said.
He added that it was out of the question to exclude the country’s institutions when taking steps on such an important issue.
Erhürman said that neither the Interior Minister, the Foreign Minister nor the Office of the President were informed of the steps taken.
Regarding the state budget, Erhürman said that the country wouldn’t be experiencing the current crisis had Tatar appointed someone in his place until a new government was formed.
Nevertheless, CTP will make the necessary contributions in parliament to ensure that the budget is prepared and passed without any obstacles, he said.
Echoing Erhürman’s viewpoint regarding the fenced-off town, People’s Party (HP) MP Kudret Özersay said the steps which were being taken in Maraş (Varosha) undermined the state’s institutions.
“The process on Maraş (Varosha) started wrong and is going wrong. The steps taken by disregarding the Turkish Cypriot institutions are inappropriate and undignified,” Özersay said in his address in parliament on Monday.
Speaking on behalf of HP and not as the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Özersay argued the situation over the fenced-off town was “evolving” without the knowledge or consent of the Turkish Cypriots.
“Even President Tatar claims he does not know anything about the developments in Maraş (Varosha). If he is saying this, then it means the state is completely being bypassed,” Özersay stressed.
He recalled that the UBP-HP coalition had come to an end for the same reason, Tatar’s and the UBP’s disregard for the state’s institutions.
“I hope the new government will be formed soon to bring the relations between the TRNC and Turkey to a healthy ground because the current state of affairs is not healthy,” Özersay concluded.
Not possible to disregard the rights of the TCs in East Med
Yenidüzen, Kıbrıs, Havadis, Diyalog
Regional/International Relations, Energy, External Security
OVERVIEW
“It is not possible to disregard the rights of the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Monday as he delivered the opening lecture for the academic year at the National Defence University.
Akar said that Turkey has and always will protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots.
“There are two sovereign communities on the island with Turkey, Greece and the UK being guarantor powers. There is maritime jurisdiction law as well as international law,” Akar noted,
He reminded that Turkey has a coastline of 1,870 kilometres.
“There will be problems naturally if anyone were to try to contain Turkey by drawing artificial borders,” Akar stressed.
He noted that Ankara will do everything possible to protect the rights and the interests of Turkey and Turkish Cypriots.
“We will not allow any fait accompli. It is not possible to take any decisions in the region by excluding Turkey. Everyone needs to know this fact,” Akar said.
He added that Ankara will not allow countries located thousands of miles away to come and usurp Turkey’s rights in the region.
“Everyone needs to know and understand how determined we are,” Akar stressed, urging third parties such as the EU to remain objective.
“We expect third parties such as the EU to be objective, free of prejudices and approach the issues without any bias,” Akar said.
Noting that Turkey will not make any concessions from its rightful positions, Akar pointed out dialogue is the only way forward.
“The only thing that needs to be done is for Greece to come to the negotiations table. We will collectively produce reasonable solutions through dialogue and negotiations,” Akar concluded.
KEY ACTORS
Akar (Turkey)
>> Not possible to disregard the rights of the TCs in the East Med.
>> Turkey has & will always continue to protect TCs’ rights.
>> There are two sovereign communities on the island with Turkey, Greece & the UK being guarantor powers.
>> Problems will arise if anyone were to try to contain Turkey with artificial borders & if anyone were to claim everything in the region belongs to them.
>> Ankara will do everything possible to protect the rights & the interests of Turkey & TCs.
>> Ankara will not allow any fait accompli.
>> Not possible to take any decisions in the region by excluding Turkey.
>> Turkey will not allow any country located thousands of miles away to come and usurp its rights.
>> Everyone needs to know & understand Ankara’s determination.
>> Ankara expects the third parties to be objective, free of prejudices & approach the issues without any bias.
>> Turkey will not make any concessions from its rightful positions.
>> The only thing that needs to be done is for Greece to come to the negotiations table to collectively produce reasonable solutions through dialogue & negotiations.